A Warrior Speaks with His Sword (6)

"...Congratulations on achieving enlightenment."

"Congratulations."

"Thank you... I've been blocked by a wall for some time and it was stifling, but by presenting me with such a topic..."

A topic? This counted as a topic? I had only spoken casually. And he gained enlightenment from that? Had the protagonist's comprehension climbed all the way to the heavens? I could only stand astonished at the main character's talent, which surpassed all imagination. At this rate, if I simply tossed out random four-character idioms, wouldn't his realm keep rising?

"...Benefactor?"

"Since you've ascended to a new realm today, you ought to consolidate it properly. So... let's put our spar on hold for another time."

"Thank you, Benefactor!"

I get it already, so just go. I saw Mok Gyeong off as he repeated his thanks over and over, and once he had disappeared from sight I let out a long sigh.

"It feels like I've glimpsed a fragment of monstrous talent."

"Uncle, what exactly did you say to make him achieve enlightenment?"

"The scenery one sees depends on where one stands."

Hye-ryeong tilted her head with a subtle expression at my words.

"It's a nice saying, but I'm not sure it's profound enough to trigger enlightenment..."

"I don't know either."

If people could reach enlightenment from words like those, every dog and cow would have stepped into the Harmonious Realm and founded their own martial empire. At that point, weren't spiritual medicines basically meaningless from the start?

Normally, internal energy also surged dramatically upon gaining enlightenment. Perhaps he already possessed more than I did. The Western Regions tended to have a smaller overall quantity of aura, after all.

It might be the difference in how the West and the East approached enlightenment; my own aura hadn't swelled by much. Since the arts of the Western Regions were built upon that modest foundation of aura to begin with, it wasn't a serious issue... but it would still be nice if it overflowed the way it did for people of the Central Plains.

This part would have to be solved with elixirs.

"I want to reach a higher realm quickly too... Uncle! Spar with me!"

"Didn't you just come back from training? It hasn't been that long since you washed."

"I can just wash again!"

"You'll be tired. Let's do it tomorrow."

"But I can still—"

Even if you puff out your cheeks and flap your arms, what cannot be done cannot be done.

"Training must be done in moderation to hold meaning. There's a saying about how excess is just as bad as deficiency."

"How does Uncle even know classical proverbs? Isn't that from the Analects?"

"...I simply picked it up while studying."

"Uncle, you're amazing! I can never use difficult phrases properly—"

"It's perfectly normal, so don't look so glum. I only know them because I studied with proper focus."

To be exact, back in the twenty-first century.

"Hehe... Uncle, then I'll head into my room first!"

"Sure, go on. I'll wash up and join you later."

I watched Hye-ryeong's retreating figure as she scampered into the room, then headed to my own quarters to fetch a change of clothes.

At the referee's words, every qualifier for the main bracket—including me and Hye-ryeong—turned their eyes toward the wooden box of appropriate size placed beside him.

"Whether we advance or not will depend on what we draw from there..."

"Don't worry too much. You'll be able to handle it just fine."

If my memory served, the main bracket was filled with at least first-class experts. Among them, the most noticeable rising stars were mostly from the Nine Great Sects and the Five Great Families. As long as I wasn't paired against warriors from the Nine Great Sects, the fights shouldn't be as difficult as one might fear.

"Aren't you nervous, Uncle?"

"Not particularly."

Compared to the battlefield—where the comrade you'd been chewing jerky with one day might return the next with only his head intact—this place was paradise. At the very least there was no fear of dying.

Of course, that was about to change... but I'd find a way. I had to smash the head of that Heavenly Demon bastard who was desperately clawing his way up from Tianshan.

"The person at the very front, step forward and draw one at a time!"

Ah, it was beginning.

We stopped our chatter and watched the young man approaching the box. Seeing the spear in his hand, he appeared to be a rare spearman. I'd heard spears weren't commonly used in the martial world, yet it seemed that wasn't entirely the case.

I'd like to cross blades with him once, but I had no idea how the matchups would fall.

"Yang Se-yu of the Yang Clan! Group Five!"

"Cough..."

"Uncle, what's wrong?"

"Just a cough."

Why did the name have to sound like that?

After the initial surprise, the main bracket pairings were decided without further incident.

And it was only near the very end that my name was called.

"William! Step forward!"

I walked over at a steady pace and plunged my hand into the box. Should I pick this slip? I withdrew my hand, unfolded the paper, and showed it to the referee.

"William! Group Five!"

It really matched.

I wasn't sure whether to be happy or not.

When I returned to my seat, Hye-ryeong approached with a bright smile.

"You're matched against that spearman from earlier!"

"A spear, huh."

Come to think of it, my main weapon during my days as a knight had been the lance. The sword was only secondary. So I knew how to handle spear users... though the shape of this spear was quite different. Since lances were weapons for cavalry charges to begin with, comparing the two was strange in itself.

Still, it wasn't as if I had zero experience, so facing him shouldn't be too difficult.

Among the Mamluks—the elite soldiers carefully selected in the Islamic world—there had been quite a few skilled with the spear. Compared to them, this fellow's skill probably wouldn't be exceptional. Those men had been literal monsters deliberately raised by the state.

Monsters so formidable that a frontal duel wouldn't even be possible unless one was a knight. Compared to those bastards, these people... were nothing more than fledglings.

The gap between seasoned butchers and ordinary humans was simply on another level.

"...It should make for an interesting match."

"Ugh, my first opponent is from the Huashan Sect..."

"Was it Cheongmaehyang?"

"Yes. It's Lady Cheongmaehyang of the White Plum Blossom."

...Who was that again?

Since the name didn't ring any bells, she probably wasn't one of the original heroines.

I turned my head and observed Cheongmaehyang as she chatted with the Huashan warriors. Her aura didn't seem all that different from Hye-ryeong's. She appeared to be a notch above her, but not by a margin that would make the fight impossible. It would still be a difficult bout, yet... Hye-ryeong would manage on her own.

All I could do was cheer her on.

"Don't get too intimidated. The difference isn't that large, so fight with confidence. You mustn't lose in momentum. I've told you many times, haven't I? In a fight, it's all about..."

"Seizing the initiative!"

"Exactly."

"Benefactor is correct."

"Did the drawing go well?"

"It did. My first opponent is Young Master Song Mu-han of the Paeryeok Division."

The Paeryeok Division... It wouldn't be an easy fight... or so one would say, but this guy was the type who could gain enlightenment ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠in the middle of battling a Peak expert and ascend himself.

To be blunt, I couldn't bring myself to worry much. After all, I was someone who knew exactly how absurd the protagonist's talent truly was.

"He's not that difficult an opponent. Do well."

"Thank you for the encouragement, Benefactor."

"..."

"Ahem..."

Ah, it still wasn't over. I turned toward the referee, who had cleared his throat to draw attention. He swept his gaze across the main bracket participants, then shouted in a voice laden with internal energy.

With those words the referee stepped down from the platform and the main bracket participants began to disperse. I watched them scatter for a moment before Hye-ryeong tugged at my sleeve. I looked down at her.

"Uncle, what are we doing now?"

"We're going to eat. It's about mealtime."

"It's already that late?"

"Apparently."

"Then I shall return to the patrol squad. Benefactor..."

"You come along too."

"Pardon?"

"Since you're already here, you should eat something delicious before you go."

We could build a bit more rapport ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠this way.

He would become one of the greatest assets when we fought the Demonic Cult in the future.

I also felt a pang of sympathy remembering how often the original work mentioned that the patrol squad's meals were terribly poor. No matter how hard life was, a person should at least eat well.

"I am fine."

"There's no need to feel burdened."

"However..."

Mok Gyeong's gaze flicked toward Hye-ryeong and then back again.

Ah, so that was it.

I chuckled and said, "Don't overthink it. Since things have turned out this way, consider it a chance to build connections. You can't keep wandering alone forever."

"...Understood."

Hye-ryeong, stop staring with that pouty face. I need capable subordinates if I'm going to stop the Demonic Cult or whatever.

I poked ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠Hye-ryeong's puffed-out cheek as she turned her head away in a huff.

"Hye-ryeong, I'll order whatever you want, so cheer up. Besides..."

"...All right."

Hye-ryeong finally nodded at my words.